Key Points:
- Governor Newsom calls Trump’s federal deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles unlawful and inflammatory.
- Trump cites federal authority under Title 10 to justify troop mobilization to quell ongoing immigration protests.
- Experts and Democratic leaders warn the move sets a dangerous precedent, escalating tensions and bypassing state authority.
A political and constitutional clash has erupted in California as Governor Gavin Newsom denounced President Donald Trump’s deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, labeling the move “unlawful” and a “serious breach of state sovereignty.”
The troops arrived Sunday amid intensifying immigration protests triggered by recent raids from federal immigration agents, which led to dozens of arrests. The protests, now in their third consecutive day, have seen increasingly tense confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement, with reports of tear gas, flashbang grenades, and multiple arrests. Protesters have blocked freeways, set fires—including to autonomous vehicles—and clashed with police in several parts of the city.
President Trump authorized the deployment under Title 10 of the U.S. Code, allowing federalization of the National Guard to enforce federal laws and protect government property. “The violence and lawlessness cannot be allowed to continue,” Trump stated via Truth Social. “We will restore order. The riots must end—now.”
Newsom Condemns Federal Overreach
Governor Newsom sharply rebuked the decision, asserting it bypasses state authority and needlessly escalates the situation. “This is an unlawful seizure of state military forces,” he wrote in a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, demanding the troops be returned to state control. “It’s a provocative act that will only inflame tensions.”
Newsom also indicated plans to challenge the deployment in court, accusing the Trump administration of using the protests to manufacture a crisis. “We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). “These are the actions of a dictator, not a president.”
Support for Newsom came swiftly from Democratic leaders nationwide, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, who described Trump’s move as a “dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos” and an attempt to stoke fear rather than ensure public safety.
While National Guard troops have been deployed to Los Angeles before, notably during the 1992 riots, legal scholars and political historians note that those actions were coordinated with the state. Trump’s unilateral decision marks the first federalization of a state’s National Guard without the governor’s request since the Civil Rights era.
Escalating Clashes on LA Streets
Law enforcement in Los Angeles acknowledged rising tensions on the ground. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said Sunday, “While the Guard wasn’t our first choice, given the intensity of tonight’s protests, we may need to reassess.”
Although federal officials have portrayed the situation as widespread chaos, much of the city remains unaffected. Protests have been concentrated downtown, where demonstrators—many carrying Mexican flags and denouncing ICE raids—blocked highways and faced off with authorities.
At least 44 people have been arrested since the protests began, with officers declaring some gatherings unlawful and alleging assaults on police. In some instances, self-driving vehicles were torched, and demonstrators threw projectiles at law enforcement.
As legal and political battles unfold, the core tension remains: a deepening divide over who holds authority in moments of domestic unrest—and how far federal power can reach into state affairs.
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